Why liberty statue is green

When France gifted Lady Liberty to the U. Get an education on the chemistry of how this monumental statue transitioned from penny red to chocolate brown to glorious liberty green. Problems Playing Video? Report a Problem Closed Captioning. Before you submit an error, please consult our Troubleshooting Guide. Your report has been successfully submitted. Thank you for helping us improve PBS Video. Skip to Main Content. Use System Theme. I made trips to the Statue to check it out in person.

The first time, I took the ferry from lower Manhattan on a cloudy, drizzly day. As the boat got closer, the Statue loomed; there is nothing as tall anywhere around it, and when it came into full view it seemed almost to lunge out of the water. This time, the sky was clear and the sun shone full on the Statue from directly overhead and its color blew me away.

It kind of effervesced. I could not look at it enough. I held the swatch up for comparison. The paint was shiny, tight, flat, while the ageless patina of the copper had a texture like extremely fine velour.

Some of it shaded to a green-black, parts were dark blue, parts olive. Some of the green had evidently washed down onto the pedestal and stained the bas-relief granite shields once intended to hold the seals of the thirty-eight states plus two extra for the future that had entered the Union by On the walkway that goes around the Statue I went clockwise and then counter-, to see how she looks from the south, the side immigrants saw first, with the right knee bent and the figure in stride.

Then I stopped to view her from the front, the way the immigrants saw her as their ships passed by. From that angle she appears to be standing immobile. I did not leave until late in the afternoon, when the sun had moved lower in the sky. Now, as I watched from the ferry, light streamed around her.

She was a giant silhouette with all of America behind her. John Robbins, the historical architect who was a leader of the crew that restored the Statue between and , and who now is in charge of construction, personnel, and security at the National Gallery, told me by phone that different degrees of patination cause the dark patches that people have noticed on her, especially on her face.

Weather hammers her, too. Not to mention the snow and hail and hurricanes. Robbins said that the French artisans who made the torch were rumored to have saved buckets of their urine to patinate it, Gallic pee being thought the best for that task.

If they did, it appeared to have had no effect, he added. And what about the color? By her feet, the broken shackles, which are concealed from viewers on the ground, could be stand-alone works of art.

The patina is an organic part of its handmade quality. The copper, which is quite pure, is almost all still the original, after all this time. The patina has been growing for a hundred and thirty years. On September 29, , Wilbur Wright took off from Governors Island in his canvas biplane, flew to the Statue of Liberty, and circled it while hundreds of thousands of spectators in boats and along the shore looked on.

He then returned to Governors Island, after less than five minutes in the air. No American had ever flown in a plane over water before. New York City itself lacked a colorful flag at the time. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Share Flipboard Email. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph. Chemistry Expert. Helmenstine holds a Ph.

She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter. Featured Video. Cite this Article Format. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.

Why Is the Statue of Liberty Green? Copper Facts: Chemical and Physical Properties. Sulfuric Acid and Sugar Demonstration. How to Make Copper Acetate from Copper.

Joao Jan 30, Kinnadee Sep 23, Do you have to be dsirespectful? Dec 7, Hi, Brenden! What did you learn about the Statue of Liberty from this Wonder? Sep 24, Also great info, Kinnadee! Oct 8, Ethan May 4, What is the main point of this article?? May 9, I am a kid 8 years old Mar 23, Apr 2, Bella Nov 28, I have a question. Why was this a gift? And why are people saying it was a joke?

Also, how many visitors does lady liberty get a year on average? I am a kid Mar 23, JG Mar 23, Dec 4, That's some pretty cool info, Kinnadee! Thanks for sharing! Onteonah Oct 18, Oct 23, Will Jun 19, Something strikes me as odd.

Everyone says the statue designer intended for it to patina eventually. But something doesn't add up. Accounts say it was a dull copper color when it arrived in the US. However, the statue was built in pieces in France. Many pieces were publicly displayed as they were completed the head, torch, and a foot, at the least. It took 9 years to build the statue in France, and then ship to the US. In nine years, wouldn't those parts that had been displayed or even ones in storage not have turned green?

Logic says they would have turned green, so does that mean the French cleaned off the patina before shipping it to us? If so, did they really intend for it to patina? Jun 20, Olivia Apr 11, Apr 11, Every day! New day, new Wonder! Olivia Apr 4, Apr 5, Pretty cool, huh? Hard to picture a bronze-colored Statue of Liberty! Aubrie Jan 13, The statue of liberty was not a gift it was meant for a joke. They gave it to us for a yeah good luck with your country I repeat it was not a gift it was meant for a joke.

Noah Mar 7, Jan 13, Jan 9, Benjamin Jul 10, Jul 11, Billdip Oct 11, Oct 11, Hey there, Billdip! May 11, Apr 21, Josie Mar 31, Mar 9, Hi, ao! Thanks for visiting! Dec 18, Sep 11, Monika Nov 7, Wonderopolis Nov 10, Thanks for sharing your comment with us, Monika! I think that the statue of Liberty is a sign of independence and freedom.

Also this is a really good passage for every-one to read. Wonderopolis Mar 3, Tiersa Aliprandi Age 12 Nov 8, I really enjoyed reading about the Statue of Liberty, but I have a question. Why is the Statue of Liberty a woman?

How come it couldn't have been a man or a child? By the way, this website is great! My teacher just started using it in class for many things and everyone fell in love with the creativity!!!

She's juggler age 12 Mar 7, What school do you go to what grade are you in. Wonderopolis Nov 8, Kathryn Worley Sep 28, I am a kindergarten teacher, and I can't wait to explore your website with my five year olds!

We will be studying American Symbols soon and I have included this wonder as well as the Washington Monument and the Bald Eagle into our lessons! Tiersa Age 12 Nov 8,